[INDOLOGY] Yamanaka Jyotiṣa Siddhānta?

[David and Nancy Reigle]

When the *Kālacakra-tantra* introduces its own astronomical calculations in
chapter 1, verse 26, the *Vimalaprabhā* commentary thereon refers to four
existing siddhāntas:1. Brahma; 2. Saura; 3. Yamanaka; and 4. Romaka. The
*Vimalaprabh**ā* again names these same four at 1.86, only saying Sūrya instead
of Saura. Three of these siddhāntas are of course well known: Brahma, Saura/
Sūrya, and Romaka. I have not been able to determine what the Yamanaka siddh
ānta is.

The editors of the *Vimalaprabh**ā* suggest emending Yamanaka to Yavanaka,
a reasonable assumption. However, the two very old palm-leaf manuscripts of
the *Vimalaprabhā* confirm the spelling yamanaka. Moreover, the Tibetan
translations of yamanaka do not support yavanaka. The Shong ston and Jonang
Tibetan translations take yamanaka as gcer bu pa, "naked ones." Elsewhere
in the *Kālacakra-tantra*, at 3.169 and 4.217, Tibetan gcer bu translates
Sanskrit nagna, confirming the meaning, "naked." The early Gyi jo Tibetan
translation also takes yamanaka as gcer bu. This may suggest a Jaina jyotiṣa
siddhānta.

However, I do not know of a Jaina jyotiṣa siddhānta, in the full sense of a
jyotiṣa siddhānta; meaning giving the movements of the planets, and not
just the movements of the sun and moon, as does the *S*ūryapraj*ñapti* and
works following it such as the *Jyotiṣkaraṇḍakam*. I have considered the
*Bhadrabāhu-saṃhitā*, but at least in the form we have it, this text seems
to be ruled out.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you,

David Reigle
Colorado, U.S.A.
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